Christmas lights installed on Capitol dome

You know the Christmas holiday season is closing in when the lights are strung with care on the Capitol dome. The annual ritual took place Tuesday, ahead of a weather system that’s expected to produce rain for the next three days.

You know the Christmas holiday season is closing in when the lights are strung with care on the Capitol dome.

The annual ritual took place Tuesday, ahead of a weather system that’s expected to produce rain for the next three days.

Here’s a by the numbers — and a few other things — look at the process:

1,290 — Total number of bulbs in the dome display. Each year, they are checked prior to installation to ensure they are properly working before they are strung.

260 — Length in feet of the strands strung from the top of the dome to the Capitol roof.

12 — Normal size of the crew that strings the lights. One Tuesday, they had to make do with eight because some people were off that day.

2.5 to 3 — Number of hours it usually takes to string the lights. The amount of time can vary depending on the strength off winds when the work is done. It takes about half of that time to take down the lights after the holidays.

0 — The preferred mph wind level on the day the lights are installed. Secretary of state electrical crews work around weather forecasts to ensure strong winds aren’t predicted for the day the lights are installed.

East — The side of the building where the first set of lights is installed each year. This is not superstition. Frost tends to form on the roof this time of year and is slippery. It melts on the east side first, so that’s where the work begins.

30 — Estimated weight in pounds of each strand of lights. That does not include the weight of ropes needed to hoist the lights in place. Add that to the mix and it takes a couple of strong-armed people to hoist the lights. “It’s a pretty good tug,” said Matt Gillock, who’s been doing this for seven years.

12 — Designation of the specialized wire used for the light display. It has a very thick insulation to withstand the weather. The displays are built by secretary of state employees.

25 — Watts in the bulbs used in the display. If you recall the lights used in the 1950s and 1960s, that’s the best comparison, Gillock said. The bulbs don’t last forever, and the state may move to LED bulbs in the future, but there’s no timetable for it.

20 — Miles from the city that you can see the lights, according to Gillock who lives in Auburn.

1960s — When the secretary of state’s office said the tradition began of stringing holiday lights on the outside of the dome. However, they cannot determine just who came up with the idea.